History Series / TheCosbyShow

* RealityEnsues: In "Off To See The Wretched", everything than can go wrong with the girls' scheme does, including their parents discovering what they've done. As Clair points out in her rant, "Did you ''really'' think four teenage girls could go careening off into the night and not ''one'' adult would find out about it?!" Speaking of which, Claire is the angriest that we've ever seen her, to almost frightening levels, and she is ''still'' that way at the episodes conclusion, while Vanessa isn't sulking or pouting, but in tears. It doesn't help that this is just the latest of screwups by Vanessa, and indeed, it's the final straw, as Claire finishes up her rant by declaring, "You have proven to us that you cannot be trusted. It's going to be a long time before we even think of trusting you again."

** In a second-season episode that revolves around Clair's sister getting engaged, Vanessa fantasizes about her dream wedding and Denise says that she'd rather have a small wedding ceremony in the living room of the house. In season 6 the family stages a mock ceremony in the living room so that Cliff can have the chance to give Denise away to Martin.

** In the episode where Theo wants a Gordon Gartrelle shirt, here's Cliff (paraphrasing): "A teenage boy does not need a $90 shirt unless he's [[Music/MichaelJackson on stage with his four brothers.]]"

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** In the episode where Theo wants a Gordon Gartrelle shirt, here's Cliff (paraphrasing): "A teenage boy does not need a $90 $95 shirt unless he's [[Music/MichaelJackson on stage with his four brothers.]]"

In most important respects, this was one of the most successful examples of the genre, dominating the ratings in the '80s (it was the top-rated show for five years in a row). It was heartwarming and likely to end in AnAesop if not a full-on GoldenMoment.

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In most important respects, this was one of the most successful examples of the genre, dominating the ratings in the '80s (it was the top-rated show for five years in a row). It was heartwarming and likely to end in AnAesop AnAesop[[note]]Sometimes fair, sometimes [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop not]].[[/note]] if not a full-on GoldenMoment.

Spawned a popular college-themed spinoff, ''Series/ADifferentWorld'', in 1987. Not to be confused with Bill Cosby's earlier TV outing in the [[NamesTheSame nearly-identically named]] series ''Series/TheBillCosbyShow''.

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Spawned a popular college-themed spinoff, ''Series/ADifferentWorld'', in 1987. Not to be confused with Bill Cosby's earlier TV outing in the [[NamesTheSame nearly-identically named]] series ''Series/TheBillCosbyShow''.''Series/TheBillCosbyShow'', or his much later series ''Series/{{Cosby}}'' (which reunited him with co-star Phylicia Rashad).

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** One episode did this very badly (or not, depending on who you ask). It involved Vanessa going to a concert in Baltimore, but lying to her parents about it, telling them she was going to a friend's house. When the friend's house burnt down, Cliff and Clair thought Vanessa had died, and when Vanessa finally gets home, Clair's AngerBornOfWorry drives her to loudly berate her about it, telling her to [[BigShutUp shut up]] when Vanessa tries to defend herself, and at one point gives her a [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech "Reason You Suck" Speech]] before sending her to her room, telling her that it may be a long time before they trust her with that kind of responsibility again. Whether or not Vanessa deserved this kind of punishment is a matter of debate.

** Also when Vanessa confessed to Cliff that a girl was smoking in her room she thought he would be angry because of the reaction he had when he caught Theo and Cockroach smoking. Cliff explained to her that he was more upset at them for lying and trying to hide it from him (and how they almost set the house on fire in the process).

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** Also when Vanessa confessed to Cliff that a girl friend was smoking in her room she thought he would be angry because of the reaction he had when he caught Theo and Cockroach smoking. Cliff explained to her that he was more upset at them for lying and trying to hide it from him (and how they almost set the house on fire in the process).process) and that in fact he was actually very proud of Vanessa for how she dealt with said friend by not smoking herself and for trying to convince said friend to stop.

* PantyShot: Rudy in some early instances of Innocent Panties. In the episode where the family stages a funeral for Rudy's deceased goldfish, she nervously lifts her skirt up. In the opening of season 3, which was choreographed, Rudy spins around towards a sitting position and her billowy long skirt twirls up high enough to she her panties.

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* PantyShot: Rudy in some early instances of Innocent Panties. In the episode where the family stages a funeral for Rudy's deceased goldfish, she nervously lifts her skirt up. In the opening of season 3, which was choreographed, Rudy spins around towards a sitting position and her billowy long skirt twirls up high enough to she show her panties.

* PantyShot: Rudy in some early instances of Innocent Panties. In the episode where the family stages a funeral for Rudy's deceased goldfish, she nervously lifts her skirt up. In the opening of season 3, which was choreographed, Rudy spins around towards a sitting position and her billowy long skirt twirls up high enough to she her panties.

** In Season 2, Theo gets his ear pierced to impress a girl he likes, but it's a botched job and becomes infected. Cliff hopes that Russel will punish the boy, but instead Russel talks about how Cliff tried to wax his head for a girl (Clair!) and ended up burning it all off. Then ''Anna'' shares the story of how Russel tried to get her name tattooed on her chest, but said "Ada" instead because of a cold (and [[ContrivedCoincidence Ada happened to be the name of Anna's rival]]), and later had to have it removed. The Huxtable women comment that the men in their lives are idiotic for doing such ridiculous things.--->'''Denise''': You Huxtable men are crazy!--->'''Cliff''': But we always get our women!--->'''Clair''': But not ''because'' of the things you do...''despite'' them.

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** Sondra gets another one in-universe in the episode where she allows Elvin to go out to dinner with an old girlfriend--after he ''specifically said'' he felt uncomfortable going without her and repeatedly insisted that he shouldn't do it. When he goes out anyway (again, after much protesting), stays late, and pays the check, Sondra becomes furious and won't talk to him. Later, when she complains to Clair and expects a sympathetic ear, her mother instead uses this trope, pointing out that ''Sondra'' created the problem by not being honest about her feelings in the first place, and therefore has no one to blame but herself.

--> Cliff (When asked to help raise money for the cause): I just wrote four college tuition cheques. I AM The United Negro College Fund!

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--> Cliff (When '''Cliff''' ''(When asked to help raise money for the cause): cause)'': I just wrote four college tuition cheques. I AM The United Negro College Fund!

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** It's also possible that some of the kids received scholarships and other financial aid. Sondra is depicted as bright; Denise is a legacy at her (fictional) college and doesn't get her first "D" until she starts to attend (plus she drops out after only one year). So while it would still be a big expense, it's feasible.

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